Top 5 Most Memorable Bowling Spells by Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL History

On Wednesday, Ravichandran Ashwin officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing down the curtain on a remarkable 17-year journey in the tournament. Over the years, Ashwin experienced plenty of highs and lows but left behind a legacy that few can match. He played for five different franchises during his IPL career, but it was with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that he found the most success — winning the title twice, in 2010 and 2011.

Ashwin retires as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, a testament to his consistency and craft as a bowler. Throughout his career, he delivered several match-winning spells that turned games on their head. In this article, let’s take a look back at five of his most memorable bowling performances in the IPL.

Top 5 most memorable spells by Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL history

1. 3/16 vs RCB, IPL 2011 Final

Ravichandran Ashwin played a crucial role in Chennai Super Kings' triumph in the IPL 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Chasing a daunting target of 206, RCB had a powerful batting line-up, and the pressure was on CSK to strike early. That’s when MS Dhoni made a bold move—bringing Ashwin into the attack during the powerplay.

The decision turned out to be a masterstroke.

Ashwin dismissed the dangerous Chris Gayle for a duck, silencing the RCB camp right away. He then removed Mayank Agarwal for just 10, putting CSK firmly in control. With clever variations and tight lines, Ashwin finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 16 in his four overs.

His spell completely derailed RCB’s chase, and they were eventually restricted to just 147 for 8. Thanks to Ashwin’s brilliance, CSK comfortably defended their total and lifted their second IPL title.

2. 3/23 vs DC, IPL 2012 Qualifier 2

Another memorable spell from R. Ashwin in an IPL knockout came during the second qualifier of the 2012 season, where Chennai Super Kings faced Delhi Capitals in Chennai. With a massive total of 225/5 on the board, CSK were in a strong position to seal a spot in the final. Ashwin played a crucial role with the ball, bowling with control and keeping the pressure on Delhi’s batters. He picked up key wickets — Mahela Jayawardene, Andre Russell, and Umesh Yadav — finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 23 in 3.5 overs, helping CSK cruise to a convincing win and secure their place in the final.

3. 2/19 vs RCB, IPL 2024 Eliminator

Ravichandran Ashwin delivered another standout performance in the IPL 2024 Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), playing a key role in Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) crucial win. He was named Player of the Match for his exceptional spell of 2 for 19 in four overs. RCB were cruising at 97/2 when Ashwin turned the game on its head, dismissing Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell off back-to-back deliveries. His double strike broke RCB’s momentum and shifted the match firmly in RR’s favor.

4. 4/34 vs PBKS , IPL 2016

Playing for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in IPL 2016, R. Ashwin delivered his best-ever performance in the tournament against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Vizag. Punjab were cruising at 122/2, but thanks to Ashwin’s brilliant spell, they could only manage 172/7 in their 20 overs. Ashwin dismantled the top order, picking up four of the top five batters and finishing with figures of 4 for 34. His efforts played a crucial role in helping Pune edge out a close win.

5. 2/13 vs Punjab, IPL 2009

One of the lowest totals ever successfully defended in IPL history—116/9—came during the 2009 season in Durban, when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a remarkable win. Batting first, CSK struggled and could only manage 116 for 9 in their 20 overs. With such a low total on the board, they needed something special from their bowlers—and that’s exactly what R. Ashwin delivered.

Ashwin bowled a brilliant spell, finishing with figures of 2 for 13 in his four overs. He also took the crucial wicket of Kumar Sangakkara, helping to put pressure on the Punjab Kings' batting lineup. Punjab faltered in the chase and could only reach 92 for 8, handing CSK a memorable victory.

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